Sami Khedira is available for selection while Benjamin Mendy is doubtful as Juventus host AS Monaco on Tuesday.
Juventus host AS Monaco for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal tie at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday with a place in next month’s final on the line.
The first leg ended with a comfortable 2-0 win for the Bianconeri, with Gonzalo Higuain scoring the decisive goals. Ahead of the second leg on Tuesday, here’s the all-important team news for both Juventus and Monaco.
The report on that front is good for Massimiliano Allegri, who has no fresh injury concerns to deal with ahead of the visit of Monaco. Marko Pjaca (knee) and Daniele Rugani (leg) remain the only two players who are sidelined with long-term injuries and will not play a part for the hosts.
? @OfficialAllegri: “I need to decide whether @andreabarzagli2 or @Cuadrado plays #JuveASM.” #ItsTime #UCL
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) May 8, 2017
? @OfficialAllegri: “One of @ClaMarchisio8, @SamiKhedira and @Miralem_Pjanic will play in midfield tomorrow.” #JuveASM #ItsTime #UCL
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) May 8, 2017
Meanwhile, Allegri has welcomed Sami Khedira back to his squad for Tuesday after the German midfielder missed the first leg due to suspension. Colombian midfielder Juan Cuadrado, too, is available again after missed the first due to a muscle injury.
The Juventus boss has admitted that he has a big decision to make ahead of the match on Tuesday, as he has to decide whether to restore Cuadrado back into the attack or continue with Andrea Barzagli in the back-three.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Allegri also said that star striker Gonzalo Higuain is fit and raring to go after he was rested for the Turin derby on the weekend.
The Italian tactician said,”We’re in great shape at this critical stage of the season. There’s nothing wrong with Higuain. He’s fit to play. I’ll decide whether to player Barzagli or Cuadrado down the right side, while in midfield I’ll pick two from Khedira, Pjanic and Marchisio. My judgement will be based on how I imagine the game will pan out.”
Much like Allegri, AS Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim, too, does not have any new injury concerns on his hands, as Brazilian attacking midfielder Gabriel Boschilia remains sidelined with a knee injury.
? @leonardojjardim : « Les joueur doivent être à 100% pour jouer une demi-finale de Champions League. » #JUVASM pic.twitter.com/uI0M9RJ8kh
— AS MONACO ?? (@AS_Monaco) May 8, 2017
Jardim, though, is still sweating over the fitness of French defender Benjamin Mendy, who is struggling with a hamstring injury. The France international has missed Monaco’s last two games, and if he fails to recover on time, Djibril Sidibe is likely to continue as left-back, with Nabil Dirar deployed as the right-back.
The Monaco boss has included Mendy in the travelling squad, but he insisted that the defender will only be selected in the starting lineup if he is 100% fit.
“Players must be 100% player for a semi-final Champions League. If Mendy is not 100%, he will not play tomorrow,” Jardim said in his pre-match press conference.
Meanwhile, Timeoue Bakayoko, who played with a broken nose in the first leg last week, is expected to continue playing with a mask on Tuesday as well in what is arguably the most crucial game this season for Monaco.
